Method and apparatus for sealing perforations in a well casing



Dec. 20, 1966 w. B. BERRY 3,292,700

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING PERFORATIONS IN A WELL CASING Y FiledMarch 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l Hei,

"INVENTOR wlLLlAM B. BERRY A TTOR NE YJ Dec. 20, 1966 w. B. BERRY3,292,700

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING PERFORATIONS 1N A WELL CASING FiledMarch 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 llkIIlI-lli lll INVENTOR.

WILUAM B. BERRY Dec. 20, 1966 w. B. BERRY METHOD AND APPARATUS FORSEALING PERFORATIONS IN A WELL CASING sheets-sheets Filed March 2, 1964FiGII INVENTOR,

WILLIAM B. BERRY BY /v/mm FIGB ATTORNEYLS United States Patent C)3,292,700 NIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING PERFORATIONS IN A WELLCASING William B. Berry, P.0. Box 1951, Clarksburg, W. Va. 26401 FiledMar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,493 20 Claims. (Cl. 166-21) This inventionrelates broadly to the treating of wells and more specifically to theclosing or sealing of perforations in the casing of the well.

In well drilling operations the use of a stimulation method intreatment, such as hydraulic fracturing, has greatly stimulated andincreased the permeability and porosity of the producing or potentiallyproducing zones in a well bore. The hydraulic fracturingroperation isusually carried out after a well has been drilled, the production tubingor casing run yand cemented in place and the Well logged with thepotentially productive zones identified in the conventional andcustomary manner. A productive zone is then exposed by perforating thewell tubing or casing in the customary manner. The productive zone isthen subjected to'hydraulic fracturing by the pumping of water, oil orother liquids which might carry certain solid agents through theperforations in the well casing and into the zone. The uidic material sopumped under high pressure is intended to rupture the zone and formpassageways therein While maintaining said passageways in asubstantially open or porous state through which the oil or gas in theformation may'then escape'into the casing disposed within the bore ofthewell. The foregoing type of operation is readily adaptable to a wellhaving only a single zone capable of producing oil or gas.

In Wells wherein the log of various tests would seem to indicate thatthere was a possibility of developing a plurality of zones, the problemof being able to treat one zone by perforating same and then subjectingit to a hydraulic fracturing operation and then isolating or separatingthis treated zone from the next zone to be so treated has often been ofsuch a magnitude as to result, in having what could be a multi-zone wellremain as `a single zone well, without any attempts being made tostimulate more than one zone. While the use of packers, plugs and othersimilar devices have been successfully employed in a multi-zonestimulation procedures for the purpose of isolating or separating onezone from the next, there have arisen many ycost and operationalproblems which very often result in a potentially multi-zone well beingoperated as a single zone Well. While packers, plugs and the like havebeen placed Within a well casing for separating or isolating a pluralityof Zones, the removal of said plugs, packers and the like have generallypresented additional recovery problems in order to bring the variouszones into operation when making the Well a producing one. One of thefactors which in many instances has been a deterrent to the undertakingof a multi-zone operation is the cost of removing the plugs, packers andthe like. Thus, it has been found that plugs, packers and similardevices do not completely fulll the demands of the industry inmulti-zone operations.

In recent years, various methods and types of apparatus have beendevised for introducing into the -well casing balls or spheres ofappropriate size for the purpose of seating upon the perforations formedin the casingin an effort to effectively seal the treated zone from theWell bore. The patent to Derrick et al. 2,754,910 of July 17, 1956,illustrates one method of introducing balls or spheres into a wellcasing for the purpose of closing or sealing the perforations formed insaid casing in the area of the treated zone, While the patent to Holt3,011,548 of December 5, 1961, illustrates another method and apparatuslCe utilizing balls or spheres for closing and sealing the perforationsformed in said casing. The teachings of said patents have met Withconsiderable success and have deflnitely proven, in the majority ofinstances, to have an advantage over the use of plugs, packers, and thelike in permitting successive zones to be treated while separating orisolating treated zones.

While the method and apparatus as disclosed in the Holt Patent 3,011,548has provided an operator with more .control than prior methods over thedelivery of the sealing balls or spheres to the perforations in the wellcasing, it has been determined that a still more positive control isdesired over the delivery of the balls or spheres and the seating of theballs on the perforations. It 'has been ascertained that where the ballsor spheres derive their locomotion and manipulation to the iiuid movingthrough the Well casing and perforations into the treated zone, thatsaid balls or spheres do not in all instances effectively seal offdesired or selective perforations in a particular zone.

The present invention is intended to overcome the various shortcomingsfound to exist in prior devices, particularly as concerns the deliveryof sealant members to a perforated zone in a Well casing and the placingof said -members in engagement with the perforations for the purpose ofeffectively sealing said perforated area. In the present invention, thesealant members are lowered in a Well casing to the .perforated zone bymeans of a transporter which is under the control of an operator at alltimes. When the transporter has been lowered to the desired level, thesealant members are exposed or released therefrom so as to be capable oflimited movement in a .fluid medium that is being pumped into the wellcasing and flowing through the perforations into the treated zone of thewell, but still remaining under the control of the transporter. Thesealant members are attached to a member carried by the transporter bymeans of ilexible pliable elements that are capable of being broken bythe movement of the transporter in opposition to the Aholding force ofthe hydraulic pressure of the fluid at the time 'of or just after thesealant members seat upon the perforations for effectively sealing sameagainst the passage of iluid therethrough.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel methodand apparatus of introducing into a perforated well casing a pluralityof-members for engaging and effectively sealing the perforations in saidcasing.

Another object is to provide a transporter to carry a plurality ofsealant members into a well casing having a perforated area or zone fordelivering said members to said area un'der the control of thetransporter.

Another object is to provide a transporter having a plurality of sealantmembers that is introduced into a perforated a-rea or zone of a wellcasing to deliver said members to said area` for kclosing and sealingsaid perforations.

A further object is to provide a plurality of sealant members connectedto a carrying member that is positioned ,Within a transporter which isintroduced into a well casing having a perforated area or zone fordelivering said sealant members to the perforated area while stillconnected to the carrying member and under the control of thetransporter.

A still further object is to provide a plurality of sealant membersconnected to and carried by a transporter which isintroduced into a Wellcasing having a perforated area or zone delivering said sealant membersto the perforated area Where said members are .removed from thetransporter and seat upon the peforations for elfectively sealing same.

Another object is to provide a plurality of sealant members connected toand car-ried by la transporter which is introduced into a Well casinghaving a perforated area or zone and which transporter is under thecontrol of an operator to provide the maximum degree of eciency forplacing the sealant members opposite the perforations whereby thesealant members will be detached from the transported contemporaneouswith their closing and sealing the perforations in the casing.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing inthe manner in which all of the various objects are realized, will appearin the following description, which, when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated:

FIGURE l is va vertical sectional view of a cased earth Well showing thecasing perforated at a fractured zone and illustrating conventional Wellhead equipment;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of thecasing of the well of FIGURE 1 showing a transporter, partly in section,carrying sealant members therein;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 andshowing the transporter and sealant members in position for deliveringthe sealant members to the perforations in the casing;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the lower end of thetransporter shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail View of the lower portion of thetransporter shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of another portion ofthe transporter shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of thetransporter shown in FIGURE 2 illustrating the positioning of thesealant members within the transporter;

i FIGURE Sais a side elevational view of a sealing member that may beused with the transporter shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8b is a side elevational view of another form of sealant memberthat may be used With the transporter shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8c is a perspective view of still another form of sealant memberthat may be used with the transporter shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modified form oftransporter and sealing members;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the modifiedtransporter shown in FIGURE 9 illustrating the sealant members inposition for seating upon the perforations in the well casing; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged detailed view partly in section of the weightedmember connected to the lower end of the transporter shown in FIGURE 9.

Referring to FIGURE l of the drawings there is shown a conventional Wellbore having disposed therein the usual outer or surface casing 15 whichhas mounted therein, in the customary manner, an inside or productioncasing string 16 upon which is mounted a control valve 17. Theproduction casing string 16 extends through the various formations inthe well bore and terminates at the end or bottom of said bore. Thecontrol valve 17 has connected thereto a Well head assembly or unit 18that has supported thereon a well head lubricator or launch tubeassembly by which the well is maintained in locked internal controlregardless of pressuresV generated within the bore. The well headlubricator or launch tube assembly does not in and of itself constitutea part of lthe present invention but same is employed in a multizoneoperation wherein it is necessary and essential to introduce into thecasing 16 various types of equipment or apparatus and it is essentialthat the pressure be maintained within the well bore at all times thatsuch apparatus or equipment is being either introduced or removedtherefrom. As concerns the present invention, it would be suicient tostate that the well head lubricator or launch tube assembly mounted onthe well head unit 18 is provided with a cross head structure 19 thathas control valves 20. The cross head has supported thereon in operativerelation therewith a launch tube control valve 21 which in turn supportsa launch tube 22 tha-t is provided with a quick coupling 23 tofacilitate its ready attachment or detachment from the control valve 21so that various pieces of apparatus or equipment may be either insertedinto the launch tube or removed therefrom. It is through theruse of thevalves 17 and 21 that thek pressure within the well Abore may bemaintained and also introduced into `the launch tube so that thepressure within the launch tube will be equal to the well bore pressureand thus provide for a balance condition prior to the lowering ofequipment or apparatus into the well bore. duction casing string 16 isshown in FIGURE l as extending through what are considered to be, basedupon data obtained from previous tests, two potential producingformations A and B, and furthermore, the casing or string has beenanchored or secured in place by a conventional cement sheath 26. Inaddition, casing 16 has been perforated at formation A and saidformation has been stimulated by subjecting same to hydraulic fracturingwhereby passageways have been created or developed in said formationthrough which the oil or gas may readily ow or pass to the well bore andthence through the perforations into the casing or production stringl16. Thus, it becomes necessary to close or seal the perforations 27 inthe casing 16 opposite zone A before it is at all appropriate orfeasible to perforate the casing in zone B and subject -this zone to astimulation treatment through hydraulic fracturing.`

There is shown in FIGURE 2 a transporter assembly having a plurality ofsealant members mounted in and carried thereby which are being loweredfrom the well head through the casing 16 by means of a conventional wireline 28. The transporter includes an elongated hollow tubular member 29that has secured to its uppermost end, by any suitable means, a solidmetal body member 30 that is of a configuration complementary to that ofthe tubular member 29 and which acts as a weight in the lowering of the4transporter in the casing. The solid body member 30 has affixed to itsperipheral surface at space points a plurality of bowed spring members31, which are adapted to engage the vinner surface of the casing 16 rfor the purpose of centering and guiding the transporter` as it is beinglowered from the well casing head to the perforated zone that is to beclosed or sealed. The solid body member 30 has aflixed to its upper end,in any suitable manner, a tapered socket member 32 which is`connected-to the wire line 28 upon which the transporter is lowered in the casing16.

The tubular member 29 has mounted therein at its uppermost end a basemember 35 which has secured thereto, in vany suitable manner, one end ofa depending telescoping rod assembly 36. The lowermost rod of theassembly 36, FIGURE 3, has aflxed thereto a piston or mandrel 37, FIGURE6, that is formed with diametrically disposed slots 38 which havemounted therein spring fingers or members 89 that slidably engage theinner surface of the tubular member 29 during the movement of thepistonk or mandrel from its inoperative or retracted position to itsoperative position. The lowermost end portions of the spring fingers 39are intended to Hex or flare outwardlyl from the lower end of thetubular member 29 when the mandrel 37 is at its extended or operativeposition,A

The inner or pro-V ing stem 41 that terminates in or has mounted thereona hub or boss 42. The hub 42 has secured thereto by any suitable meansthe ends of a plurality of arcuate-shaped spring elements 43 whichfunction as a guide member. As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4 `there aretwo pairs of spring elements 43 with the elements of each pair beingdiametrically disposed with respect to one another and with one pair ofelements 43 having their lower ends secured to or anchored in a taperedcone member 44. The other pair of spring elements have their lower endsslidably disposed in slots 45 formed in said cone member 45 to permit aslight degree of flexing by said elements. The pairs of spring elements43 which constitute a guide member are suspended from the hub 42 so thatin their inoperative position or condition only the uppermost portionsof the elements 43 are positioned within the lowermost end ofthe tubularmember 29. The carrying stem 41 is retained Within the tubular member 29and the guide member 43 is maintained in engagement with the lower endof the tubular member 29 by a plurality of trigger members 46 that arepivotally connected to lugs or projections 47 mounted on the pair ofspring elements 43 that have their lower ends slidably mounted in theslots 45 in the cone member 44. The trigger members 46 are retained inan outwardly flared position with respect to the tubular member 29 andguide member 43 by means of a sheer pin or wire 48 that is connected toa shoulder or abutment 49 on the outer surface of the tubular member 29and to an opening or aperture 50 formed in each trigger member 46adjacent its pivotal connection to the guide member 43. The elements ofthe guide member 43 have mounted thereon subjacent the lugs 47 one endof a spring finger member 51 with the other end of said spring fingerbeing flared outwardly for engagement with the trigger members 46 sothat once the sheer pin or wire 48 has been broken the spring fingerswill move the trigger members 46 about their pivotal connection to thelugs 47 so that said trigger members will lie in planes parallel to thecarrying stem 41 in the manner as shown in FIGURE 5.

The carrying stem 41 is provided at spaced points throughout its lengthwith projections or abutments 54, FIGURES 3 and 7, which may be formedintegrally with the stem or mounted thereon by any suitable means, notshown. The projections 54 are provided with suitable screws 55 forsecuring thereto one' end of a string or thread 56, which may be formedof nylon or similar material, while the other end of the string 56 hasaixed thereto a spherical sealant member 57. It is to be noted, FIGURE7, that the projections 54 not only serve to secure to the carrying stem41 one end of the suspension or control string or thread 56 and in turnthe spherical sealant members 57 but also function as a seat or supportfor the sealant members that are connected to the next subjacentprojection 54 on the carrying stem 41. The spherical members 57 areintended to become separated from the carrying stem 41 through thebreaking or severing of the suspension or .control thread 56 after beingdrawn into or contemporaneous with being drawn into engagement with theperforations 27 in the casing 16 for the purpose of sealing saidperforations. The sealant members 57 need not be of sphericalconfiguration but may assume various forms and shapes and in t-urn maybe formed of any suitable material which .could be metallic, rubber, orplastic in nature or said membersrcould readily be a composition ofdifferent types of materials. As an illustration, the sealant memberscould be formed having a hard center core with an outer layer ofsemiflexible neoprene or Ysimilar material so that it would have certaininherent resilient characteristics and be capable of seating upon theperforation 27 in the casing V16 and being partially attened upon saidperforated area due to the hydraulic pressure in said casing. Thesealant member`57 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 7, need not be of sphericalshape but could very readily have a pear shape such as shown in FIGURE8a or it could assume an elongated or tapered end shape similar to theconguration of a lemon such as shown in FIGURE 8b or it could have theshape of a rectangle, such as illustrated in FIGURE 8c, where in lieu ofclosing or sealing a perforation in the casing 16, it could be used toseal a gap or split that might have formed or developed in said casingduring the fracturing operation.

In the use and operation of the transporter and sealant members of thepresent invention, it is to be assumedthat the well has been drilled,the casing run and cemented in place followed by a perforating operationand a hydraulic fracturing or stimulating operation of one of theproducing zones, preferably, but not necessarily the lowermost Zone.Upon the completion of the hydraulic treatment, the' perforationsin thecasing have to be sealed so the operator can advance to the nextselected zone for the purpose of subjecting this zone to a perforatingoperation, a hydraulic or stimulating treatment and then the sealing orclosing of the perforations in the casing in order to advance to thenext zone.

In preparing or loading the transporter assembly with the sealantmembers S7, the carrying stem 41 is withdrawn from the tubular member 29and said tubular member and carrying stem are inverted so that saidcarrying stem is projecting above the tubular member while the controlor suspension threads 56, which are already fastened to the sealantmembers 57, have their free ends secured to the screws 55 ontheprojections 54. After the carrying stem 41 has been loaded with thesealant members 57, the tubular member 29 is then slid over the sealantmembers and carrying stem 41 and at the same time, `the rods 36 aretelescoped within one another contemporaneous with the retraction ormovement of the piston 37 within the tubular member 29 towards the basemember 35. Once the piston 37 and carrying vstem 41 have been moved totheir inoperative positions so as to be entirely within the tubularmember 29, the sheer pin or wire 48 is connected to the shoulders 49 at4the end of the tubular housing or member 29 and through the apertures50 in the trigger members 46 so that the carrying stem and sealantmembers are retained within the tubular member 29 by means of the sheerpin or wire 48. After the carrying stem 41 and sealant members aresecured within the tubular member 29, the transporter assembly is theninverted or turned to its operative position wherein the carrying stem41 is then in a position to be projected below the tubular member 29. Inthis operative position, the sealant members 57 will then be seated uponthe projections 54 in the manner as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7.

The transporter having been so assembled or loaded is then placed in thelaunch tube 22, FIGURE l, and through suitable manipulation of thevarious valves 17, 20, and 21, lthe fluid injections of the hydraulictreatment are either temporarily halted or materially reduced inpressure so that the transporter assembly can then be lowered by meansof the wireline 28 into the casing 16 of the well bore. As thetransporter assembly is being lowered in the casing 16, the spring guidemembers 31 maintain it substantially in the central portion thereof andat the same time, the trigger members 46 are moving downwardly over theinner surface of the casing 16 which is to be closed or sealed by thesealant members 57. When the transporter assembly has been lowered tothe desired depth, that is, at a point preferably below the perforatedcasing area, the assembly is through the retraction of the Wire line 28slowly raised in the casing 16 until such time as the ends of thetrigger members 46 engage a collar or connector, not shown, that iscommonly employed in coupling or joining lthe tubing sections or stringsconstituting the inner casing 16. Upon the trigger membersengaging sucha collar or connector and through the continued raising or elevating ofthe transporter 'assembly by means of the wire line 28, the sheer pinV48 will be broken thus permitting the carrying stem and guide member 43together with the sealant members 57 to move downwardly from and out ofthe tubular member 29 of the transporter assembly under the weight ofthe carrying rod 41 and its associated elements as well as the forceimparted thereto by the piston 37 through its movement downwardly in thetubular member 29 until such time as the carrying stem 41 and sealantmembers 57 have been completely discharged or ejected from thetubularmemberv29. When the carrying stem has been completely dischargedor ejected the piston 37 will be at the bottom or lower end of thetubular member 29 and the lower portions of the spring fingers 39 willbe flexed or llared outwardly of the tubular member for holding orretaining said piston and carrying stem 41 in their extended oroperative position with respect to the tubular member 29. Upon thebreaking of the sheer pin or wire 48 and the downward movement of theguide member 43 and carrying stem away from the lower end of the tubularmember 29, the spring members 51 will cause the trigger members 46 topivot about the lugs 47 so that said trigger members project upwardly inplanes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrying stem 41 wherebythe guide member 43 will be able to have a free and unimpeded movementdownwardly in the casing 16 to facilitate in the withdrawing of thecarrying stem and sealant members from the tubular member 29. Thesealant members 57 upon moving out of the tubular member 29 fall off ofthe projections 54 and are suspended from the screws S by the carryingor control threads 56 so that they assume a position that isrepresentative of a long pod or bunch of grapes. The manner ofsupporting the sealant members upon one projection 54 on the carryingstem 41 while having the other or free end of the control or suspensionthread 56 secured to the next subjacent projeciton 54 enables thecontrol or suspension thread 56 to drag or draw the sealant members outof the tubular member 29 during the period in which the carrying stem 41is moving out of or below the tubular member 29 and thus insures a freemovement of the carrying stem and sealant members by avoiding anybunching or gathering of the sealant members within the tubular member,which type of arrangement might readily jam or impede the movement ofthe carrying stem from the tubular member 29.

The transporter assembly with the depending carrying stem 41 and sealantmembers 57 are slowly raised in the rated from the carrying stem bybreaking the control thread 56 thus leaving the sealant member 57 seatedupon the perforation for sealing same. As the transporter assemblycontinues its upward movement in the casing 16,l

the lowermost perforations will become sealed by the uppermost sealantmembers on the carrying stem 41 and the area of static condition willincrease in the casing until tinally all of the perforations 27 willhave been closed by a sealant member 57.

Upon the seating of the sealant members 57 upon the perforations 27 inthe casing 16 in the zone A, it will be necessary to maintain a minimumwell head pump pressure, commonly known as a holding pressure, in orderto insure the retention of the sealant members on each and everyperforation while the transporter assembly is removed from the casing 16and the zone B is then subjected to a sequence of operations ofperforating, hy-

' draulic fracturing, and treatment and ushing operation casing 16 bymeans of the wire line 28 and at the same time flush uid injections intothe casing 16 are reestablished through thevalve 20 with a correspondingflow through the perforations in the casing and into the treated zone.Thus, a static condition is created or remains in the well bore fluidbelow the perforated area or zone so that it is highly desirable toeffect the ejection or discharge of'the carrying stem 41 from thetubular member 29 in this area so that thesealant members will bedisposed or positioned within a static condition zone and be out of therange of fluid turbulence which would be occasioned by the flushingfluid moving through the perforations of the casing 16 and into thetreated zone. As the transporter assembly advances up-hole by means ofthe wire line 28, the sealant members 57 secured to the end of thecarrying stem adjacent the piston 37, FIGURE 3, will be moved into thearea of the perforations and due to the movement of the flushing fluid,the uppermost sealant members would be drawn over to the lowermostperforations in the casing 16. The various sealant members will remainunder the control of the operator through the transporter assembly andthe suspension threads 56 until the time that a sealant member is drawnontoV and seated over a perforation 27 in the casing 16, as at thisstage, the suspension or control thread 56 will be broken due tothe'hydraulic pressure of the flushing liuid in holdking the sealantmember on the perforation 27, and the tension pull applied by the slowand steady upward movement of the carrying stem in the casing. Theupward movement of the carrying stem, even though said movefollowed bythe sealing of the perforations in said zone.l

Thus, as one zone is treated and'sealed, the next zone is subjected tothe same treatment and sealing operation, the treated zones will remainin a sealed condition until such time as it is found desirable to bringthe well into operation through removal of the sealant members 57.

The modified transporter assembly shown in FIGURESy 9 through 11'V isidentical in many respects to the transporter assembly shown in FIGURES2 and 3, and the tween the sealant members when said members and chainThe are positioned within the tubular member 29. lowermost end of thechain 61 is connected to a tapered weight or guide member 63 that has aplurality of resilient fingers 64 mounted on its outer surface. Thetapered weight or guide member 63 is provided with trigger members 46that are spring biased to a closed or seated position, FIGURE 1l, bymeans of the spring members 51.

The transporter assembly shown in FIGURES4 9 through ll is operated inthe same manner as that shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 in that the triggermembers 46 engage a collar or coupling connection in the casing 16 sothat as the transporter assembly is being raised in the` casing 16, thesheer pin or wire connecting the trigger members 46 to the tubularmember 29 is broken, thus, permitting the guide member 63 to fall freefrom the tubular casing 29 and due to its weight cause the beaded chain61 with the sealant members mounted thereon to be withdrawn from thelower end of the tubular member 29.=

The sealant members 57 are elevated in the well casing in the samemanner as described hereinbefore with respect to the transporterassembly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 so that said sealant members willengage the perforations in the casing and be seated thereon foreffecting a sealing of said perforations.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailedcharacter, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, itis to beV understood that the specific terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts andmodifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for temporarily sealing the perforations in the casing of aWell comprising a tubular member, means connected to said tubular memberfor raising and As shown in FIGURE 9,

lowering same in said casing, a carrying member, a plurality of sealantmembers, means detachably connecting said sealant members to saidcarrying member, said carrying member and sealant members positionedwithin said tubular member for lowering in said casing below saidperforations, means connected to said carrying member for moving saidcarrying member and sealant members out of said tubular member in thevicinity of said perforations, said sealant members being drawn intoengagement with said perforations by the How of uid from the casingthrough the perforations las the carrying member and ltubular member arebeing raised in the casing, the pressure of the fluid owing from thecasing through the perforations being of sufficient magnitude toovercome the movement and force imparted to said sealant members by theraising of the carrying member to effect a separation of said sealantmembers from said carrying member.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said sealant members arespherical balls .connected to the carrying member by breakable pliablesuspension elements.

3. Apparatus for temporarily sealing the perforations in the casing of awell comprising -a carrying member positioned within the casing in thevicinity of the perforations, .a plurality of sealant members detachablyconnected to said carrying member by break-able elements, meansconnected to said carrying member for raising said carrying member inthe casing and moving said sealant members through the perforatedportion of the casing, said sealant members being drawn into engagementwith said perforations by the ow of uid from the casing through theperforations contemporaneous with the raising of said carrying member insaid casing, the pressure of the fluid flowing from the casing throughthe perforations being of suicient magnitude to overcome said breakableelements .and the movement and force imparted to said sealant members bythe raising -of the carrying member to effect a separation of saidsealant members from said carrying member.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said breakable elementsare strands of thread.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said sealant members arespherical and formed of pliable material, and being of a size to seat onsaid perforations without being forced therethrough.

6. Apparatus for temporarily sealing the perforations in the casing of awell having uid owing from the casing through the perforationscomprising an elongated tubular member, means connected to said tubularmember for lowering .and raising same under positive control in saidcasing, a carrying member connected to and positioned Within saidtubular member, a plurality of sealant members, means detachablyconnecting said sealant members to said carrying member -at spacedpoints along its length, a guide member connected to an end of saidcarrying member, means on said guide member detachably connected to saidtubular member to hold said carrying member and sealant members withinsaid tubul-ar member during the lowering of said tubular member to thearea of the perforations, said means on said guide member engaging saidcasing as said tubular member is initially raised in said casing todetach said guide member from said tubular member and withdraw thecarrying member and sealant members from said tubular member to aposition below the perforations in the casing, said sealant membersbeing drawn from the carrying stem and seating upon the perforations forsealing same by the uid owing from the casing through the perforationscontemporaneous with moving the carrying stem through the perforatedarea as the tubular member is being raised in the casing, the pressureof the uid owing from the casing through the perforations being ofsuicient magnitude to overcome the movement and force imparted to saidsealant members by the l0 raising of the tubular' member t effect aseparation of said sealant members from said carrying stem.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said sealant members areof pear shape 'and a size to close said perforations.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said sealant members areofl pear shape and have an outer covering of semi-exible material.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said sealant members areof pear shape and `formed from a plastic material that is connected tosaid carrying member by strands of nylon material.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said sealant members arespherical and formed of pliable material and being of -a size to seat onsaid perforations wtihout being forced therethrough.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said carrying member isa-chain having one end connected to said tubular member and being of agreater length than said tubular member.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said guide member is .atapered plug of suiicient weight to effect the withdrawal of thecarrying member and sea-laut members from the tubular member.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said sealant members arerelatively flat .and elongated and of a size to close splits and thelike in the perforated casing.

14. The method of temporarily sealing the perforations in the casing ofa Well which comprises lowering under positive control to a pointadjacent the perfonations la tubular member containing a carrying memberwith a plurality of sealant members connected thereto, ejecting thecarrying member and sealant members from the tubular member to a levelbelow the perforations while maintaining said carrying member andsealant members from the tubular member to a level below theperformations while maintaining said carrying member and sealant memberunder positive control and in suspension from said tubular member,elevating said tubular member and moving said carrying member andsealant members through the perforated area of the casingcontemporaneous with circulating uid from the casing outwardly throughthe perforations to move the sealant members into engagement with theperforations while separating the sealant members from the carryingmember.

15. A method in vaccordance with claim 14 wherein the sealant membersare pear shaped.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the sealant members arepear shaped and formed with an outer layer of pliable material.

17. A method in accordance With claim 14 wherein the sealant members areformed of a plastic material.

18. The method of temporarily sealing the perforations in the casing ofa well which comprises lowering under positive control to a point belowthe perforations a member having a plurality of sealant membersdetachably connected thereto Iand depending therefrom, elevating thecarrying member and moving the sealant members through the perforatedarea of the casing while flowing a fluid from the casing through theperforations to move the sealant members into engagement with theperforations for closing same while separating the sealant members fromthe carrying member.

19. Apparatus for temporarily sealing the perforations in the casing ofa well comprising an elongated tubular member, a telescopic rod assemblymounted therein, a carrying member connected to said rod assembly formovement -into and out of said tubular member, a plurality of sealantmembers connected to said carrying member within said tubular member bypliable breakable elements, a guide member connected to an end of saidcarrying member, means connected to said tubular member for loweringsame in the vicinity of the perforations, means carried by said guidemember and detachably connected to said tubular members, said meansengaging said casing to disconnect the guide member from the tubularmember and enable said carrying member to be projected from the tubularmember to place said sealant members adjacent the perforationscontemporaneous with the raising of said tubular member by said rstmentioned means.

20. Apparatus for temporarily sealing the perforations in the casing ofa well having iluid owing from the casing through the perforationscomprising an elongated tubular member, a carrying member mounted withinsaid tubular member and arranged to project from an end of said tubularmember, a plurality of sealant members connected by brea-kable strandelements to said carrying member for positioning within said tubularmember, means connected to the other end of said tubular member forlowering same in the vicinity of said perforations, telescopic meansrconnected to said tubular member for projecting said carrying memberand sealant members from said tubular member to a point below theperforaltions in the casing, spring members mounted on said tubularmember and engageable with said casing for position` ing said tubularmember in said casing, said sealant members engaging said perforationsupon the raising of the tubular member by said first mentioned meanscontemporaneous with the breaking of said strand elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES E.OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

20 s. J. NovosAD, Assistant Examiner.

3. APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY SEALING THE PERFORATIONS IN THE CASING OF AWELL COMPRISING A CARRYING MEMBER POSITIONED WITHIN THE CASING IN THEVICINITY OF THE PERFORATIONS, A PLURALITY OF SEALANT MEMBERS DETACHABLYCONNECTED TO SAID CARRYING MEMBER BY BREAKABLE ELEMENTS, MEANS CONNECTEDTO SAID CARRYING MEMBER FOR RAISING SAID CARRYING MEMBER IN THE CASINGAND MOVING SAID SEALANT MEMBERS THROUGH THE PREFORATED PORTION OF THECASING, SAID SEALANT MEMBERS BEING DRAWN INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDPERFORATIONS BY THE FLOW OF FLUID FROM THE CASING THROUGH THEPERFORATIONS CONTEMPORANEOUS WITH THE RAISING OF SAID CARRYING MEMBER INSAID CASING, THE PRESSURE OF THE FLUID FLOWING FROM THE CASING THROUGHTHE PERFORATIONS BEING OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE TO OVERCOME SAIDBREAKABLE ELEMENTS AND THE MOVEMENT AND FORCE IMPARTED TO SAID SEALANTMEMBERS BY THE RAISING OF THE CARRYING MEMBER TO EFFECT A SEPARATION OFSAID SEALANT MEMBERS FROM SAID CARRYING MEMBER.
 18. THE METHOD OFTEMPORARILY SEALING THE PERFORATIONS IN THE CASING OF A WELL WHICHCOMPRISES LOWERING UNDER POSITIVE CONTROL TO A POINT BELOW THEPERFORATIONS A MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SEALANT MEMBERS DETACHABLYCONNECTED THERETO AND DEPENDING THEREFROM, ELEVATING THE CARRYING MEMBERAND MOVING THE SEALANT MEMBERS THROUGH THE PERFORATED AREA OF THE CASINGWHILE FLOWING A FLUID FROM THE CASING THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS TO MOVETHE SEALANT MEMBERS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERFORATIONS FOR CLOSINGSAME WHILE SEPARATING THE SEALANT MEMBERS FROM THE CARRYING MEMBER.